I Was Wrong About Rare Character | Black Maple Hill Small Batch 2026 & Hurst Knoll Rye

I went into this Rare Character tasting with some mixed feelings. The first bottle is Black Maple Hill Small Batch 2026, a 95-proof release that I initially thought was just okay. After spending more time with it — and experimenting with both water and letting it rest — I started to realize I may have written it off a little too quickly. Then I moved on to Hurst Knoll Rye, a 7-year, 101-proof rye that made a much stronger impression right away. What surprised me most was what a little water and time did to both bottles. Black Maple Hill became creamier and more orange-creamsicle-like, while Hurst Knoll opened up into a softer, mintier, more expressive pour. By the end of the tasting, I had to admit Rare Character changed my mind a bit. Black Maple Hill still has its weaknesses, especially the short finish, but it’s better than I first gave it credit for. And Hurst Knoll Rye? That one gets an easy recommendation from me. Neither bottle was provided by Rare Character. I bought both myself. If you’ve had either Black Maple Hill Small Batch 2026 or Hurst Knoll Rye, let me know what you thought — and whether a little water changed the experience for you too. Every Friday night we get together for Bourbon Night with tastings, bourbon news, videos, conversation, and plenty more. Stay connected! Follow me on my socials: 🎮 Twitch:   / slyakagreyfox   🐦 Twitter:   / slyakagreyfox   🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slyakagreyfo... 💬 Discord:   / discord   #RareCharacter #Bourbon #RyeWhiskey